Powerful offense gives K-State their 18th straight victory against rival Kansas
K-State used a strong offensive attack that accumulated 568 total yards to end their two-game losing streak and close out homecoming weekend with a 35-24 win over Kansas on Oct. 17.
The Wildcats got the ground game going early with a five-play drive of 75 yards, which ended with a 59-yard run from Avery Johnson and a 4-yard carry from Rodney Fields for the touchdown. But the Jayhawks immediately killed the momentum with a 95-yard kickoff return from Tate Nagy to even the game at 7.
After forcing a turnover on downs on the next drive, Kansas took their first lead with a pass from Isaiah Marshall to Nik McMillan. Then a Linkon Cure fumble led to a 31-yard field goal to give the Jayhawks a 17-7 advantage.
K-State took off in the second quarter defensively. Luis Rodriguez added two field goals to put the Wildcats within 4, 17-13, and the defense forced Kansas to punt twice. Simon McClannan pinned the Jayhawks deep in their own territory within the final three minutes of the half, and the K-State defense forced them to punt again. However, Matthew Gil dropped the snap, sending the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety to make the score 17-15.
Rodriguez added another field goal at the end of the half, and the Wildcats took an 18-17 lead into the halftime break.
Kansas retook the lead at the start of the second half with a touchdown run from Dylan Edwards, and the Wildcats followed that up with an 8-yard run from Joe Jackson to go back in front 25-24.
The Wildcat offense ran a 10-play drive that stretched into the fourth quarter and took almost six minutes off the clock, but Kansas would stop them just short of the end zone.
The Jayhawks responded with a 10-play drive of their own that covered 81 yards, but Logan Bartley put an end to it by tracking down the first interception of the season for the defense.
The next drive started with a 64-yard run from Joe Jackson, then ended three plays later with a 9-yard pass to Jaron Tibbs. K-State forced the Jayhawks to punt, and Luis Rodriguez iced the game with his fourth field goal of the day to give the Wildcats an 11-point win, 35-24.
Of K-State’s total yards, 359 came on the ground. Joe Jackson led the way with 159 yards, and Avery Johnson followed with 132. Rodney Fields also had 66 yards on just eight carries.
Like the Wildcats, Kansas relied on the run-game to get their yards. They finished with 168 rush yards, and Isaiah Marshall was the leader with 117. Dylan Edwards recorded a team-high 16 carries for 57 yards.
Avery Johnson went 14-for-24, throwing for 209 yards and a touchdown. Derrick Salley Jr. only caught two passes but turned it into 70 yards to lead the category, and Jaron Tibbs caught Johnson’s lone touchdown pass in a 67-yard performance.
Isaiah Marshall completed 12 of his 26 passes for a total of 151 yards to go with a touchdown and an interception. Nik McMillan was the top target, recording five receptions for 55 yards and the only receiving touchdown, and Leyton Cure racked up 44 yards off two catches.
The Wildcats improve to 4-2 and get their first win in Big 12 play after dropping the first two. They hit the road for two weeks with matchups against Arizona State and Colorado before returning to Manhattan on Nov. 7 to welcome Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks fall to 2-4 and 0-3 in conference play, and return to Lawrence next Saturday to face Baylor.
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